Overview

The Health Services Research Association of Australia & New Zealand was incorporated in Sydney in April 2001. It has been set up in response to a growing need to promote health services research in both Australia and New Zealand.

The purpose of the Association is to facilitate communication across researchers, and between researchers and policymakers, to promote education and training in health services research, and to ensure sustainable capacity in health services research in Australia and New Zealand.

The Association has grown over the years and now has a strong membership base of both individual health service researchers and corporate health services research groups, government departments and agencies. In recent year it has been able to employ an Executive Officer and as well as continuing to run a major health services research and policy conferences every two year it has been able to engage in a wider range of activities and opportunities for its members including early career workshops, special seminars, and its corporate member forums. The Association maintains a vibrant website and issues a regular newsletter and email bulletins highlighting the latest HSR new, events and career opportunities. Behind the scenes the Executive is also working to promote health services research to research funding agencies and to policymakers.

Mission

The objects of the Association are to encourage and promote the development and conduct of health services research, in order to promote improved health services delivery and improved health; and in particular to:

Promote the development of sustainable capacity in the field of health services research;

Facilitate and promote communication and collegiality among researchers engaged in health services research;

Facilitate and promote the regular exchange of views across researchers and policymakers, managers, clinicians and other interested parties;

Promote the education and development of researchers and others working in health services research;

Encourage the development of strategically important research;

Promote excellence in health services research.

Advocate for appropriate levels of funding for health services research in Australia and New Zealand.